Incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin has won a new term in office, state media reported on Monday.
He leads the 2024 presidential race with 87.32 percent of the vote, TASS news agency reported, citing information fromthe Russian Central Election Commission.
With more than 99 percent of ballots counted, Putin is followed by Communist Party candidate Nikolay Kharitonov is with 4.32 percent of votes and New People party runner Vladislav Davankovwith 3.79 percent.
Although Putin has cemented his grip on power with a massive win, critics claim the ballot had no democratic legitimacy.
According to Al-Jazeera, Putin touted the outcome as a vindication of his decision to resist pressure from the West and invade Ukraine.
“No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us … no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history,” he remarked.
Soon after the polls closed on Sunday, early returns indicated a thumping victory for Putin, who has been in power over the last 25 years. The result means he will extend his rule for another six years.
The election panel put the turnout at74.22 percent, up from the 2018 levels of 67.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the White House said the vote was neither free nor fair. “The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Putin has imprisoned political opponents,” said the National Security Council spokesperson.
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